Education and the Seven Ignorances: Part 1

Education and the Practical Ignorance

The next second in Life is an uncertainty. It doesn't mean the moment is not real or that the present is the only real entity. Or that the past and the future are illusory. The conception of illusion is rooted in ignorance. The famous Advaitin example of the snake and the rope clearly illustrates the problem is with the observer and his ignorance. Not the object he deems as illusory. Man often says the thorn pricked me. This reflects a transfer a responsibility, a perverse tendency to shift the blame on others. Just because he sees the rope as snake doesn't make the rope a snake. The rope is what it is, a rope. Still, the ego sees it as a rope. The enlightened spiritual individual can see the rope as himself. As energy.  

Illusion exists as long as ignorance exists. The conception of Illusion is willful ignorance, in that man doesn't want to see or perceive what is obvious. 

That said, Time by itself is neutral in nature. It's human choice that shapes events, not time. The past and the future are integrated in the present. So, the next moment carries with it the possibility of a multitude of choices which range from learning from the past to conquering the future by knowing what the power of Human Choice is. 

A student doesn't know what his passion is. But he wants to pursue something he is passionate about. The question arises as to how how he can pursue something whan he doesn't know what the "something" is? This is a practical problem every child faces these days. Should education stop with a single degree, or should I start working right away? Should I opt for a stream I like or something that has a lot of scope in the job market? Something will make me feel secure? are some questions that explain how practical 'practical ignorance' is.

So, what can a student do to come out the ignorance? What can he do to become less anxious?

He may ask himself these questions: Am I willingly letting the society cocoon me or am I making a decision I know is in tune with my value system? What do I really want to do? Am I chasing happiness or am I really in tune with my aspirations to find the purpose of my existence? Do I have the patience to stick to my ideals? Or am I being rebellious just so I can oppose society, which is still social conformity but at a negative level. "I want to do what others don't want to do so I will be recognised as an individual" is not individuality. It's petulant individualism.